116-Year-Old Colorado Building Has Been Transformed for Modern Use

Quite a few historic buildings in Denver have stood the test of time, and continue to exist more than a hundred years after they were first built. Many of these prominent Colorado properties have undergone transformations that beautifully blend old and new.

One example of a historic place that has proven its importance to the city's culture, is the SugarCube Building. The structure and surrounding Sugar Block were once a part of Denver's early warehouse district, but have since been revitalized for residential and commercial use. The SugarCube Building is a prime example of integrating history with new construction.

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Located on Blake Street and the 16th Street Mall in the heart of downtown Denver, the SugarCube Building was originally built in 1906. At that time, it was known just as the Sugar Building. According to HistoryColorado.org, the Sugar Building was given a two-story addition in 1912.

The Great Western Sugar Company used the LoDo property as its headquarters in the early twentieth century. This company was a leader in the sugar beet industry and had a major influence on Colorado's economy during the 1900s. The company operated out of the building in the late 1960s.

Fast forward more than a hundred years, and the SugarCube Building is now ten stories and serves as a vibrant, mixed-use space.

World-renowned architect Bruce Kuwabara was hired in 2008 to help to transform the historic Sugar Building and its neighboring parking lot. Although a great deal of renovation went into the project, the building's recognizable tan-colored brick exterior with ornamented terra cotta remain intact.

The first floor now features several different retail stores and restaurants.

Offices make up floors two through four and luxurious residential apartments are on the stories above that. The inside is sleek, with tons of innovative amenities.

Additionally, the SugarCube Building was also designed to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Thanks to Urban Villages, it was the first LEED Silver-certified building in LoDo to use solar energy. Other sustainable practices that go into maintaining the property include a building-wide composting and recycling program, and water conservation efforts.

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The SugarCube Building was added to the National Register of Historic Districts in 1978.